Electric control circuit



Nov. 26, 1946. E. E. MOYER ELECTRIC CONTROL CIRCUIT Filed Oct. 29, 1941 2958 wants.

Inventor: Elmo E Negev,

W b5 His Patented Nov. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES anion PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONTROL CIRCUIT Application October 29, 1941, Serial No. 416,974

6 Claims. 1

3 invention relates to electric control circuits and more particularly to improved electric control circuits for accomplishing variable energization of a load circuit, such as an electric motor, by the use of electric valve translating apparatus.

In control systems employing electric valve translating apparatus for efiecting variable energization of a load circuit and particularly in systems where the load circuit comprises a motor which is to be maintained in some definite operative relation with respect to another motor, it is desirable to insure that the output of the electric valve apparatus is returned to a predetermined value each time the system is deenergized so that the initial energization of the load circuit is always the same. In systems of this character employed for controlling the energization of one of a plurality of motors to maintain the motors in definite speed relation by means of synchronous motion transmitting devices driven by the motors and operating to control the position of a movable element for varying the output of the electric valve means, it has been found that if the movable element is positively driven in accordance with the relative positions of the movable el ments of the motion transmitting devices, uneven operation of the regulating system results if the speed relation of the motors continues to depart from the desired relation after the movable element of the valve controlling means has reached the limit of its movement. In order to overcome this difficulty I provide a connection between the motion transmitting devices and the movable element of the tube controlling means which permits the motion transnitting devices to remain in synchronism after the movable element of the control device has reached the limit of its travel In this Way a continued temporary departure of the desired relation between the movable elements and the motors after the movable element of the tube controlling means has reached the limit of its travel permits the motion transmitting devices to remain in synchronism and as soon as the speed relation approaches that desired and the motion transmitting devices tend to rotate the movable element of the controlling means in the opposite direction the control is picked up smoothly as contrasted with the sudden changes which occur if the motion transmitting devices temporarily lose synchronism with the rotating elements of the motors which are controlled.

t is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved electric control circuit.

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved electric control circuit for an electric valve translating apparatus for effooting variable energization of a load circuit which provides for a predetermined initial energization of the load.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a new and improved electric control system employing self-synchronous type motion transmitting devices which insures smooth regulating action under all operating conditions.

Briefly stated, in the illustrated embodiment of my invention I provide a controlled electric valve system for variably energizing the armature winding of an electric motor to maintain a predetermined speed relation between the motor and another motor which is not energized through the electric valve means. The control of the electric valve means to effect the desired variable energization is accomplished by means of motion transmitting devi es including a differential motion transmitting device which is operatively connected with the rotor of a phase shifting device for controlling the excitation of the electric valve means. The connection between the rotor of the difjerential signal device and the rotor of the phase shifting device is accomplished by means of a torque clutch which permits synchronous movement of the difierential device after the ro'cr or the phase shifting device has reached the limit of its movement. This provides for smooth functioning of the control at the time the desired speed relation is again attained and operating of the movable element of the phat e shifting device within its efiective range is resumed. In order to insure that the initial output of he electric valve apparatus i always the sa. upon energization of the anodecathode circuit thereof, I provide means for automatically returiing the rotor of the phase shifting device to a predetermined position upon deenergizaticn of the anode-cathode circuit of the electric valve means and also provide means for preventing energization of the anode-cathode circuit until the rotor has been returned to the predetermined position. In order to improve the smoothness of action of the control system still further I provide an improved anti-hunting circuit including a resistor-capacitor combination responsive to vo tages of the load circuit for modifying the excitation voltages applied to the electric valves. The anti-hunting circuit includes a pair of parallel resistors each of which is provided with a variable tap for varying the magnitude thereof so that it is possible to adjust independently the time constant of the condenser circuit and the magnitude of the resistance included in the control circuit.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing, the single figure is a schematic representation of one embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown my invention embodied in a controlled electric valve system for variably energizing the armature windings of a direct current motor IE to maintain a predetermined speed relation between the motor H3 and another direct current motor H which has the armature l2thereof energized from a direct current supply it through a suitable motor starting and control circuit (not shown). The direct current motor ill has the terminals of the armature M- thereof connected in the direct current circuit of an electric valve rectifier illustrated generally by numeral 5. The motors iii and H each include a field winding l5 energized from a suitable source of direct current I! through a variable resistance it.

As mentioned above the armature winding of the motor H3 is energized from the direct current circuit of an electric valve rectifier l5. As illustrated in the drawing the rectifier is a threephase half-wave system comprising three electric valves i9, 23 and 2! each preferably of the type comprising a container enclosing an ionizable medium, such as a gas Or vapor, and within which are mounted an anode 22, a cathode 23 and associated heater element 24, a control member or grid 25 and a shield grid 25. The particular type of valve illustrated is not essential to the present invention and any of the well known types of controlled electric valves may be employed, if desired. The anode-cathode circuits of the electric valves are energized from a threephase alternating current supply circuit 2'5 which energizes an alternating current bus 23 under the control of a manual switch 2%. The anodes of the electric valves [9, 2E3 and 2! are connected to the end terminals of a Y-connected secondary winding so of an anode transformer 35 having a deltaconneeted primary winding 32 connected to the alternating current bus 28. The direct current circuit of the rectifier is completed from the neutral connection 33 of the secondary winding 38 to one armature terminal of motor ill and from the other armature terminal of the m tor to the cathode bus 34 of the electric valves I 9, 20 and 2! As is well understood by those skilled in the art the three-phase rectifier circuit described above is effective to supp y direct current to the armature of the motor I 0 at a voltage dependent upon the energization of the control members or grids 25 of the electric valves.

The control circuit for energizing the control members 25 to effect variable energization of the motor Ml will now b described. In the arrangement illustrated the motor H3 is intended to operate at a fixed speed relation with respect to the motor H as may be desired in many commercial applications such, for example, as in the case of a cable making equipment where motor IE, for example, may be the reel driving motor and the motor H may be the fiyer motor or, in other words, the motor which controls the twist or lay of the cable. The conductivities of the electric valves l92l are controlled in accordance with the voltages of the phase terminals of the threephase stator winding 35 of a phase shifting device 36 having a three-phase rotor winding H. The phase shifting device 36 is of a type well known in the art and is similar in mechanical construction to a three-phase wound rotor induction motor. The circuit between the three phase terminals of the stator winding 35 and the respective control members 25 of valves i9, 20 and BI is completed through current limiting resistors 33. The neutral terminal of the stator winding 35 is connected to the cathode bus 3a of the valves I9, 26 and 2! through a portion of a resistor 39 determined by the position of the slider 46. Resistor 39 and a parallel connected resistor 4| form part of an anti-hunting circuit which is operative to introduce by means of the portion of resistor-39 included in the circuit of the control members 25 a voltage dependent upon changes in voltage across the terminals of armature Id of the machine 5 ii. The anti-hunting circuit includes a resistor 42 and capacitor 33 connected in series across the terminals of the armature l4 and a capacitor Mi connected between the common point of resistor 12 and capacitor 43 and the terminal of parallel resistors 39 and 4| remote from the cathode bus 54. The condenser 45 for a given voltage of the armature M is charged to a predetermined value. Changes in the armature voltage result in a change in the charge of the capacitor it and the charging current flowing through resistor 39 introduces a direct current bias voltage in the circuit of control members 25 which afiects the conductivity of the valves in a direction to oppose the change in armature voltage. The magnitude of the bias voltage for a given current flow through resistor 39 is controlled by the position of the slider 46 while the position of a short circuiting slider 45 on resistor 4| determines the total resistance of the parallel resistance combination 39 and ii to determine the time constant of the discharge circuit of the anti-hunting capacitor Mi. Capacitor 43 cooperating with resistor 52 operates as filter to remove a portion of the ripple from the voltage of the anti-hunting circuit. Capacitors 55a are connected between the respective control members 25 of electric valves I9, 20 and 2! and the cathode bus 34 and serve to minimize transient voltages on the control members and improve the controlling action thereof.

As previously mentioned, the motor 56 is variably energized to operate at a speed dependent upon the speed of the motor H. The arrangement for controlling the position of the rotor 37 of phase shifting device 36 to accomplish this speed relation between motors l8 and I I will now be described. A source of alternating current control voltage is derived from the alternating current bus 28 by means of a control transformer 46 having a primary network il comprising three phase windings provided with taps which may be adjusted to provide the desired magnitude of control voltage. The secondary network 28 provides a source of energizing voltage for the rotor winding 3'! of the phase shifting device 35. The transformer is also provided with secondary windings 49 and 5d. Winding 35 provides a source of energy for heating the cathode heaters 24 of electric valves l9, 2!! and 2! and the secondary 56 provides a source of voltage for energizing the rotor windings 5i and 52 of angular motion transmitting devices 53 and 54 respec-. tively. The devices 53 and Ft are provided with three phase Y-connected stator windings 55 and 56 respectively with the phase terminals of stator winding ,55 connected with the phase terminals .01 the three phase rotor winding 57 of a differential motion transmitting device 53 While phase terminals of the winding 56 are connected with the phase terminals of the polyphase stator winding '59 of the differential motion transmitting device .58. Capacitors 6 3 are connected across the stator terminals of the differential device and are of such a rating that they take a leading excitation current equal to the lagging excitation current required by the differential device with the result that the exciting current which must be supplied to the diilerential by the device 53 for example, is equal only to the power component of the current which is in general only a small portion of the total excitation current.

As illustrated in the drawing, 1e rotor winding 5| of device 53 is coupled to the shaft of motor ID by means of suitable gearin designated by the numeral 6! and the rotor of device 54 is mechanically coupled to the shaft of motor H by suitable gearing 62. This gearing is arranged so that the speed of rotation of windings 5i and. 52 are equal when the desired speed re-- lation between the motor iii and the motor it exists. As is well understood the Sel'syn system including devices 54 558 operate to produce a torque on the rotor 5? dependent on the displacement between windings til and For example, if windings 5i and 52 are in equilibrium position no torque is produced on \v'nding 51.

shifting rotor has reached the ii. of its travel. This arrangement allows the differential selsyn to continue to rotate the event that the departure from the desired speed relationship between machines l9 and ii is not nediately corrected by control of the electric val es 9 to st before the winding 3? reaches of its extreme positions.

With the motor control system illustrated it is desired that the electric valves 25 have their ranode-cathode circuits energized that the control circuit therefor be adjusted so that the output voltage is insufficient to rotate the reel motor iii until after the motor ii has been started. Preferably the minimum output of the valves is sufficient to produce considerable torque in the reel but insufficient to rotate it. To this end means are provided for' insuring that the rotor 3? of the phase shifting device is returned to the position of minimum output of the electric valves when the anode-cathode circuits of the electric valves are deenergized for preventing the energization of the anode cathode circuits until the rotor has been returned to the position corresponding to minimum cute put voltage of. the electric valve rectifier. Referring again to the drawing, the anode circuit of the valves 59, 20 and 2| are controlled by the movable contacts 55 of an anode contactor 61 having an operating electromagnet 68 including an operating coil 69,. The coil SSis connected to be energized from one phase of the transformer secondary network 48 through a manually controlled switch 79 and a pair of spaced fixed contacts ii which are bridged by a conducting member '52 when the phase shifting device is in the position of minimum output of the electric valves. The cco. erating contacts ii and 12 also provide a mechanical stop for the rotor of the phase shifting circuit. A mechanical stop '13 is provided to limit the movement of the rotor winding ill in the opposite direction. It is apparent that these stops may be adjusted in angular position to determine the minimum and maximum output of the electric valve means. A variable contact i l actuated by the relay S8 completes a circuit in parallel with the contacts ii to provide a holding circuit for the coil 68 after it has moved the contacts 55 to closed position.

The rotor 3'! of the phase shifting device 36 has an inherent tendency to rotate in a direction to reduce the output of the electric valves I9, 20 and 2i. In order to utilize this tendency to restore the phase shifting device to the position of minimum output when the anode-cathode circuit or electric valves are deenergized, I provide ns for loading electrically the stator winding ipedance elements such as resistors 15 in y se to opening movement of the contacts 66. trated in the drawing, this is accomplished ins of a switching device '16 having mov- The device Z6 is provided with an actuoil "zla connected to be energized from one p ase of the control power supply transformer secondary 58 through a circuit including a movable contact l'8 on the anode contactor 61. From an inspection of the circuit of coil l1 it is seen that it is electrically connected with the transformer secondary winding 68 whenever the anode contacts iii) closed. In this way the resistors 55 are automatically disconnected from the stator winding of the phase shifting device 36 when the anode leads of the electric valves !9, and are closed by closure of contacts 65. When the rotor 31 of the device 36 is energized from the supply circuit 28 this loading of the stator inc. ases lire torque tending to rotate the phase shifting device to the position of minimum output of the electric valves and to maintain the same in that position with the cooperating contacts l'i '12 operating as a mechanical stop against which the rotor is held.

Although the operation of the various elements of the system described above has been described during the description, it is believed that the fea tures and advantages of the present invention will be acre apparent from a brief consideration -aeration of the system as a whole. Let it be assumed that switches 29 and w are open that both motors Hi and I! are at standstill. If it is desired to start the system, switch 29 is first clos d energizing transformer 46 and the rotor w ding of phase shiftin device 35. The selsyns and E i re also energized and the cathode heater elements of the electric valves l9, 26 are energized. The contacts 11 are normally closed and resistors '45 are thereby con nected across the terminals of the stator windings of the phase shifting device 36, thus increasing the torque produced on the rotor to insure that it is rotated to the position of minimum output and that movable contact 72 is closed on contact 7!. After the cathode heater elements are at operating temperature, preferably insured by a. time delay relay (not shown) having a contact in circuit with switch 70, the switch HI is closed and coil 33 of relay 68 is energized from one phase of winding it through the contacts H and 72 of the limit switch associated with the phase shifting device 36. As soon as relay 68 picks up, contact 18 is closed to complete a circuit for coil Tia to operate contacts E1 to open circuit position and disconnect one terminal of each of the resistors it from the stator windin 35. The contacts 66 in the anode leads are closed and the contact M in parallel with contacts H and i2 is closed to complete a holding circuit for the coil 69. The tube circuit is now in operating condition and will function to impress a variable voltage on the armature winding of motor I!) dependent upon the relative position of windings i and 52 of the devices 53 and 54 respectively. The next step in the operation is the starting of the motor H which is brought up to operating speed by any suitable starting circuit (not shown).. As motor I! starts to rotate winding 52 will move with respect to winding 5| and in this way produce a torque on winding 51 which is transmitted to rotate the movable element of phase shifting device 36 in a direction to increase the output voltage of the electric valve rectifier and in this way cause the reel motor it to start rotating. The torque imparted to the winding 51 and its associated structure is always in a direction to rotate the movable element 3'! in a direction to effect the change in the impressed Voltage'on the armature of motor it necessary to change its speed in the proper manner to bring the elements 5| and 52 into the correspondence and in this way to maintain the desired speed relation between motors iii and il.

Inasmuch as movement of the rotor 31 of the phase shifting device 36 to one of its extreme positions may fail temporarily to restore the desired positional relation between the movable elements of motors it) and II, it is desirable to provide for relative movement between the winding 5? of the differential motion transmitting device 58 and the rotor 3?. To this end the torque clutch i545 interposed between the winding 57 and the winding 3'? permits relative movement of these windings when the torque required to 1'0- tate windin 3? exceeds a certain value. The clutch is adjusted so that the windings 3? and 5? are maintained in fixed relation to each other as long a winding 37 is not against the stops provided by contacts 'H and 12 at one limit of travel A and the mechanical stop 73 at the other limit of travel. In this way the system including motion transmitting devices 53, 54 and 58 are allowed to remain in synchronous relation so that as the elements of the motors iii and H approach the.

desired relationship and the phase shifting device 3'! is to be moved away from its extreme position th'e'devices 53, 5d and 58 are functioning smoothly and the winding 5? is not operating unevenly as it would tend to if it were resynchronizing after having been out of step with the remainder of the motion transmitting system. Claims including this feature of interconnecting the motiontransmitting system with the phase-shifting device by means which permits relative movement therebetween when the force required to move the phase-shiftingpdevice exceeds a predeter- 8 mined amount are presented in a divisional ap plication, Serial No. 477,031, filed February 25, 1943.

In order to prevent hunting of the regulating system the circuit including resistor 42, capacitor is and parallel resistors 39 and ii are connected across the armature terminals of the motor ID. The capacitor it tends to have a charge dependent upon the voltage of motor iii. Any change in this voltage produces a change in the condenser charge at a rate dependent upon the time constant of the condenser resistor circuit.'

The resistor 39 is connected in the circuit of the control members 25 so that the polarity of the voltage caused by a change in the condenser charge is in a direction to oppose the change in voltage of the armature machine Hi causing the change in the condenser charge. In this way overshooting of the system is prevented and a smooth regulating action obtained. The slider as controls the magnitude of resistance in circuit with condenser 55 and in this way controls the time constant of the condenser circuit. The slider 46 controls the portion of resistor 39 in the control circuit and in this way controls the magnitude of the anti-hunting voltage for a given current through resistance element 39. Condenser 43 cooperates with resistor 22 to provide a filter to remove some of the ripple from the anti-hunting voltage. The tendency of the regulating system to huntmay also be decreased by the introduction of reduction gearing between the rotor 57 and rotor 37 of the phase shifting device. The gearing may be incorporated in the clutch unit 64 if desired.

When it is desired to shut down the motors, motor H is first deenergized and brought to a standstill by dynamic breaking if desired and with the control circuit for motor is functioning in this way the motor it follows motor II to standstill at which time switch it is opened. Upon opening of the control switch ill coil 69 of the anode contactor operating relay 6B is opened to deenergize the anode-cathode circuits of the electric valves i9, 23 and 2!. Contact 18 is also opened to deenergize the winding 77a of the relay 16 thus allowing contact Ti to close and connect resistors '55 across the stator winding 35 of the phase shifting device 36. As described above this insures that the winding 37 is returned to the position of minimum output against the stops provided by contacts ii and I2 and places the system in position to be again operated. If the shutdown is for a long period the contact 29 may be opened and the system completely deenergized.

While I have described what I at present consider the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within 7 electric valve means, means for deenergizing said electric translating apparatus, and means responsive to the deenergizing operation. of said last mentioned means for returning said movable element to a position corresponding to the minimum output of said valve means.

2. In combination, a supply circuit, electric translating apparatus energized from said circuit and including electric valve means having a control member for controlling the conductivity thereof, a control system for controlling the energization of said control member including a phase shifting device having an element movable to vary the phase of the output voltage thereof thereby to vary the output of said valve means, means operative to return said movable element to a position corresponding to the minimum output of said valve means in response to deenergization of said translating apparatus, and means preventing energization of said translating apparatus when the movable element of said phase shifting device is in any but the position corresponding to minimum output of said electric valve means.

3. In combination, a supply circuit, a load circuit, electric translating apparatus interconnecting said circuits and including electric valve means having a control member associated therewith for controlling the conductivity thereof, a control circuit for controlling energization of said control member including phase shifting means having n element movable between extreme positions to vary the output of said electric valve means between a minimum and a maximum, switching means for controlling the connection of said translating apparatus with one of said first two named circuits, and means operated in response to the circuit interrupting position of said switching means for returning the movable element of said phase shifting means to the position corresponding to minimum output of said electric valve means.

l. In combination, a supply circuit, a, load circuit, electric translating apparatus interconnecting said circuits and including electric valve means having a control member for controlling the conductivity thereof, a control circuit for controlling the energization of said control member including a phase shifting device having relatively rotatable windings operable to extreme positions for varying the output of said electric valve means between a minimum and a maximum, said relatively rotatable windings having an inherent tendency to rotate in a direction to reduce the output of said electric valve means to a minimum, and means responsive to a change in an operating condition of said translating apparatus for elec- 10 trically loading one of said windings to increase the tendency of said windings to rotate to a position corresponding to the minimum output of said electric valve means.

5. In combination, a supply circuit, a load circuit, electric translating apparatus interconnecting said circuits and includin electric valve means having a control member fo controlling the conductivity thereof, a, control circuit for controlling the energization of said control member including a phase shifting device having relatively movable windings movable between extreme positions for varyin the output of said electric valve means between a minimum and a maximum, at least one of said windings being a polyphase winding, impedance means, circuit controlling means for connecting said impedance means with one of the windings of said phase shifting device, switchin means for interrupting the circuit between said translating apparatus and said supply circuit, said circuit controlling means being operable in response to operation of said switching means to open circuit position to connect said impedance means with said winding and thereby causing said relatively movable windings to move to a position correspondin to minimum output of said electric valve means.

6. In combination, a supply circuit, a load circuit, electric translatin apparatus interconnecting said circuits and including electric valve means having a control member for controlling the conductivity thereof, a control circuit for controlling the energization of said control member including a polyphase phase shifting device having relatively movable windings movable between extreme positions for varying the output of said electric valve means between a minimum and a maximum, and a plurality of resistance elements, switching means for connecting said resistance elements between the phase terminals of one of the windings of said phase shifting device, switching means for controlling the energization of said electric valve means from said supply circuit, and means operable in response to operation of said second named switching means to a position to deenergize said electric valve means to operatively connect said resistance elements to one winding of said phase shifting device to electrically load said device and cause said windings to move to a position corresponding to the minimum output of said electric valve means, and means preventing operation of said second switching means to energize said valve means except when said phase shifting device is in a position to produce minimum output of said electric valve means.

ELMO E. MOYER. 

